Crystal Mountain - General

Actually my comments were directed at the OP but whatever.
Mathematics is the key.

Lets assume shit gets real in GW.
GW to Crystal turn-off= 16.3 miles
Boulevard= 6 miles

Lets assume snow/icy road conditions.
At speed limit: Confident driver who can afford good SUV and expensive snow tires; retired, season pass holder with extensive Hawaiian shirt collection.
16.3  miles at 55 mph=17.78 minutes.
6  miles at 35 mph=10.28 minutes
Total=28.06 minutes.

At 10 mph below speed limit: Cautious/inexperienced driver who can only afford a Honda Civic and has a carload of children and has worked long hours to afford a very special , expensive ski day with his/her kids.
16.3 miles at 45 mph= 21.73mins
6  miles at 25 mph= 14.4 mins
Total=36.13 minutes

Delta=8.07 minutes!

Rather than use the 8.07 minutes in angst and frustration at your fellow commuter, use them to contemplate the days skiing ahead and meditate on the joy of life.

LOL. How you made this a commentary on socialism and class warfare and not safe driving is really funny.

I think we all should have the exact same car, a very small electric car that can max go 45 (cause when there is snow on the ground there is NO WAY any car can go faster than 45 no matter what). Then we all can ponder the joys of skiing while going slowly together to the mountains. 

Addendum - and just in case, no...........my snow car is a 2003 Saab with 180,000 miles on it and new Michelin snow tires that I financed. Don't have an expensive 4by, can't afford it with 2 kids at college.

I also have a 1998 Lincoln Continental with front wheel drive and traction control that I inherited. But even with good snow tires and my 30 years of teaching skiing and driving in the mountains that car should NOT be in the snow.

I don't take that car out cause it would be dangerous to me and more importantly, those around me.

Scotsman, the voice of reason. Relax people.

Aaahhhh….what a topic…first off this should not have Crystal in the title…pretty much as noted by others this problem occurs on other roads leading to the mountains…this post should have started in the general folder…Oh well, for some background, I’ve been driving to Crystal since the early 80’s…I used to one of those very aggressive drivers that always needed to hopscotch through the line up of cars going to “slowly”.  But as my testosterone diminished with old age (and my continued desire to live a relatively long life) I mellowed into certain views…1) After pulling onto 410 in Enumclaw (I live up Renton way) I figured my parking space at Crystal was pretty much locked in,  2) I head to the mountain way to early on weekdays (and even earlier when I ski on weekends) so that I can mellow out peacefully in the lodge prepping for another great day skiing, 3) I got a 4 wheel truck so I don’t have to put on chains (remember when folks had to put on chains every time it snowed anywhere from Mud Mt. to the Blvd?) and the truck gives enough traction to keep moving (but will not stop me any faster than the unprepared rear wheel drive cars), 4)  I don’t speed through Greenwater (anybody that does 45 through GW and cant do 55 anywhere else really does not make very happy, mainly when the road is bare and at most wet),  5) I do pay attention for ELK in all the “normal” areas, but lately those big rats have been showing up in unexpected areas.  Haven’t had to drive on snow very often in the last few years, so getting used to slower commutes to Crystal are okay (epically as noted the time differential is pretty minimal – have to drive to Portland to get any real time savings and then it still is not significant enough to really mater).

I can still be a to aggressive driver in the low lands, hate the current lack of brains of the current drivers that are not courteous to others, tail gate (has happened a lot on 410 recently), F-around with dang cell phones, don’t know the rules of the road,  cant get out of the left lane on multi lane roads, school bus drivers (new one on the route through Black Diamond recently, but I should not have included this one probably). Increased traffic, ever more traffic lights, driving to Stevens or Alpy (scary drivers everywhere)…Ahh life…Oh well, long winded wordy comment as usual and as Ms. Ferk said to me on the drive down Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon and we slowed to 25 for unknown reasons in a way to big of a back up….”Chill out Dan”…good advise! May all be save and “sane” on the roads this winter which is looking very happy.

This thread was a good fun read with plenty of wit and of course road wisdom. Living on the east slope of the mountains and driving Hwy 12 makes me feel fortunate compared to the drive to Crystal. In fact drivers have become much better at handling the winter conditions compared to ten years ago when there were always a few spinouts and ditch accidents on the hwy. I think everyone learned that all wheel drive does not equal invincibility. Hwy 12 has been known to wash out and be impassable at certain times, none the less a quality road and drive up to powder heaven.

OK, I started this conversation which I knew would result in responses both positive and negative. Thanks everyone for weighing in. Griff, yes it was cathartic writing it. ddk, the only reason I put Crystal in the title is that I don't drive to the Summit or Stevens and figured the multi lane highway to the Summit didn't have the same issues. Of course, Stevens has all those small burrows to drive through...

Scotsman, I really appreciated both your posts. The first reminded me how fortunate I am to be retired and have the financial resources to go skiing any time I want. However, I really appreciated your second post. You see, I have a math degree and the other night, I did a quick calculation in my head of the differences in times between speed limit driving, and a slower day and realized the amount of time was negligible. After reading your second post, I could almost see you drop the mike.

With that said, be careful out there and BE PREPARED.